Former Vatican bank heads accused of embezzlement, accounts seized: Reports said they had siphoned off between 50 and 60 million euros ($61 and $73 million) while managing the sale by the bank of 29 buildings

The problem comes about when an organization, religious or otherwise, assumes everyone they associate with to carry out their philantrophic mission, has the same values they do. Big mistake. In the words of an old Russian proverb, famously hijacked by Ronald Reagan, "Trust — but verify." For the first time, in remembered history, the Vatican bank will hire an outside autidor to analyze its books this year.

Maybe when they're finished they can do the Pentagon, which hasn't even been able to produce inside audits despite a long standing law requiring them to do so. Other U.S. agencies have complied with the requirement to my knowledge.

The Christians don't need donations. In their cashcow countries (eg. Germany) they can get citizens imprisoned for not being able to pay the government-enforced church tax. A gift that Hitler made to the Christians in exchange for their churches siding with the Nazis. Worth billions of Euros every year.

It dates back to the last days of the Holy Roman Empire to what is know as the German mediatization. Generally the churches had to give up their little feudal empires and in exchange the government gave them certain concessions such as the church tax, that is still continued in Germany today.

And yes the government continues to collect said taxes for the church and governments in general frown upon citizens not paying taxes.

Article 137 There is no state church. Freedom to form religious communities is guaranteed. Regarding the unification of religious communities within the Reich territory there are no limitations. Every religious community administrates its own affairs without interference of state or community. Religious communities acquire legal capacity according to general specifications of civil law. Religious communities, as far as they have been, remain public corporations. Other religious societies have to be granted the same rights on application, if they, by the means of their number and constitution, indicate to be lasting. If several religious communities with the status of public corporations form a confederation, the status of public corporation is extended to this confederation. Religious communities with the status of public corporations are entitled to raise taxes based on fiscal records and in accordance with state regulations. Religious communities are given equal status with civic organizations which cultivate a philosophy of life. Inasmuch as the application of these regulations requires further details, these have to be established by state legislation.

Woops. Also missed the part where Sweden, Iceland, and Switzerland were run by Hitler and co.

It's not something unique to Francis. Benedict and John Paul II were both very determined to try and clean things up in the Vatican, sadly they refused to use outsiders to do this and so were stuck trying to find trustworthy aides over actually achieving the level of effect that Francis seems to be having.

I just hope that he is able to remain dedicated to this reform & keep his health long enough to either see serious changes or at least groom a suitable group of potential successors to continue the job.

The bank, officially known as the Institute for Religious Works (IOR), said it had pressed charges against the trio some months ago and “the accounts held by the concerned individuals at the IOR have recently been seized”.

The thief investigated itself and found some improprieties. Imagine if the police investigated what it would find.

Based simply on the Catholic Church's behavior alone (sex scandals, money laundering, embezzlement, etc.), how could anyone at this point even for a second consider this organization to be the representative of God, when all of their afformentioned antics are condemned in the Bible, the book they say they believe in but clearly don't follow???

Religious organizations, police departments, court systems and governments in general are particularly egregious because they task themselves against bad behavior. And yet they harbor some of the worst examples.